Shutter awning



Aug-.4,- 1942 H. vc. HEISER SHUTTER AWNING Filed June 27, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 110/ 1 6? flgz'ser g 4, 1942- H. c. HEISER 2,291,714

SHUTTER AWNING Filed June 27, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 4, 1942. H. C. HQSER 2,291,714

SHUTTER AWNING Filed June 27, 1940 3 Sheets--$heei :5

Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE snn'r'ran AWNING Henry 0. Heiser, 1am, Ohio I Application June 27,1940, SerialNo. 342,741 L i 8 Claims.

The invention relates generally to awnings and more particularly to awnings designed to remain in place over a window and the like and having a plurality of shutters or vanes which may be opened and closed as desired.

Shutter awnings should overlap throughout when closed in order to shed rain and exclude direct sunlight, and should open easily to admit air for ventilation and a desired degree of indirect light. From the standpoint of appearance, the space between the lowermost vane and the bottom frame member or valance should be equal to the spaces between the vanes when the awning is open, and the operating mechanism should project as little as possible behind the underside of the awning.

In prior shutter awning constructions the vanes have been mounted on lever arms pivoted intermediate their ends on a rigid frame member, with the free ends of the arms pivoted to a bar parallel to the frame member, providing a parallelogram movement mechanism for and closing the vanes.

With this type of mechanism the top-vane cannot swing under the usual stationary vane or Weatherstrip at the top of the awning if the vanes swing through approximately 90 to fully open position, which movement is desirable to admit a wide range of light and air. has been customary to notch out the rear edge of the top vane around the frame members to permit the remaining portion of said rear edge to extend behind the frame members and under the Weatherstrip. The result is that when the awning is closed moisture can leak through the top vane where it is notched out around the frame members and tends to drip down close to the window which is covered by the awning.

Furthermore, with prior shutter awnings having a parallelogram movement mechanism, the space between the lowermost vane in fully open position and the cross frame member orvalance at the bottom of the awning is substantially greater than thespaces between the vanes, presenting a more unsightly appearance than if the spaces were all equal. a

The appearance of a shutter awning having a parallelogram movement mechanism, is further marred when viewed in openposition from the side or rear because the parallel bars and the vane supporting arms connected thereto extend, out behind the frame members to a considerable extent. a

Still another objection to prior shutter awnings having parallelogram movement mechanisms is opening 7 Consequently, it

" the same angle when fully open.

that since the vane supporting arms are pivoted on the rigid frame members, the pivotsare necessarily spaced a substantial distance from the vanes to. permit the vanes tofswing} clear of the frame members, with the result thatl opening operation becomes relatively difiicultif the vanes have substantial length suchas isrequired for Wide windows, store fronts, and the like. a

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved shutter-awning construction which overcomes all of the foregoing disadvantages. v I a More specifically it is an object of the present invention to provide a shutter awning having a novel and improved operating mechanism.

Another object is to provide a shutter awning in which all of the vanes closely overlap in closed position and swing through approximately 90 to fully open position.v

Another object is to provide a shutter awning in which the space between the lowermost vane and the bottom frame member or valance is'equal to the spaces between the vanes when the awning is open. I i

A further object isto provide v a shutterawning which has a very easy opening action enabling the use of elongated shutter vanes.

Another object is to provide a shutter awning construction which is adapted for box-type' awnings used with outwardly swinging casement windows, and the like. I} a A further object is to provide a box-type awning having vanes in planes forming a dihedral angle, in which all of the vanesare disposed at A still further object is to provide an inexpensive and' simply constructed shutter awning which is neat and attractive in appearance.

These and other. objects are accomplished bythe combinations, sub-combinations and arrangements of elements comprising the present invention, whichis illustrated, described and claimed herein, and whichgenerally includes laterally spaced framemembers extending angularly downward from a support, operating bars slidable longitudinally, infsaid frame members and having the ends of vaneesuppor'ting arms pivoted thereon at equal intervals, and links'pivoted at one end to said' frame members and at their other ends to said arms closely adjacentthe undersides of the vanes carried thereby. Referring to the drawings forming part hereof, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shgwn by way of example. a

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing one embodiment of the improved shutter awning applied to a window, the awning vanes being shown in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a similar fragmentary sectional view showing the shutter awning detached and the vanes in fully open position in full lines, and in partially open position in dot-dash lines;

Fig. 3 is a similar. view showing a slightly different method of operating the shutter awning; Fig. 4 is an elevation looking toward the rear side of an elongated shutter awning having a slightly different form of operating means, and showing the awning vanes in partly open position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as on line 55, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as on line 6-6, Fig. 4;

Fig. '1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 1 showing another embodiment of the'improved shutter awning with the vanes in closed position; and

Fig; 8 Ban enlarged detached fragmentary sectional view thereof, showing the awning vanes in open position in full lines. I

' Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. v

Referring first to Fig. l a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown applied to a conventional double sash window, having the upper sash 9 and the lower sash Hi vertically slidable in the window frame indicated generally at H.

The improved shutter awning indicated generally at I 2 and includes rafter angles 13 secured at their upper ends to a laterally extending supporting angle secured to the window frame ll'as'by screws l5. Preferably, one flange or leg ii of each rafter-angle is disposed outwardly at right angles from the window as shown, and is bent angularly at its'top end as shown at H fir being secured to the lateral angle H as by rivets indicated at I8.

The number of rafter angles I3 may vary' according to the lateral extent of the awning, but for an ordinary window, two laterally spaced rafter angles are used one at each side of the window.

The rafter angles l3 depend angularly downward and outward from the supporting angle H, as shown, and are rigidly secured at their lower ends to the sides of the window frame by struts or braces l9, which may be twisted metal strips secured at their irmer' ends to the sides of the window frame as indicated at 29 and at their outer ends to the bottom ends of the rafter angles as indicated at 2|.

The general construction thus far described is more or less conventional and well-known, and per se forms no part of the present invention.

The novel shutter awning construction in cludes an actuating or operating bar 22 slidable in each rafter angle i3. Preferably, the bar 22 extends longitudinally in the rafter angle 13 and is slidably supported bythe inner leg 23 thereof. A plurality of vane-supporting lever arms 24 is pivotally mounted at equal intervals on the actuating bars 22, the arms being pivoted at 25 on the bar at their inner ends and extending outwardly therefrom, anci'having angular flange portions lib at their outer endon which vanes 21 21": mounted in overlapping relation with each other in closed osition. Tiitdt: vanes ma i/c: oi wood cits} as desired, I s

ach of the vane-supporting arms 24 has pivoted thereto a link 28, the link being pivoted at one end to the arm at a point 29 closely adjacent the underside of the vane supported by the arm and substantially below the top edge of the vane in closed position. The other end of the link is pivoted as at 30 to the leg or flange ii of the rafter angle I3. I

When the actuating bars 22 are moved downward longitudinally in the rafter angle 13, the pivots 25 move accordingly, and the vane-supporting arms and vanes pivot or swing outwardly about the pivots 29. The ends of the links 28 pivoted at 39 slidably restrain the actuating bars 22 from moving outwardly away from the legs 23 of the rafter angles and permit the actuating bars to move only longitudinally of the rafter angles, with the result that the pivots 29 move outwardly causing the links to swing outwardly about the pivots 30, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Means for moving the actuating bars 22 longitudinally of the angles may include a lever arm 3! pivoted at one end on one of the rafter angles, as at 32, and having a bent link 33 pivotally connected to the intermediate portion of the lever 3| at one end and to the operating bar 22 at its other end as indicatedat 34. The free end of lever 3| may have a suitable cord or cable .35 attached thereto which conveniently may extend through a portion of the-window frame, as indicated at 36, for being operated from inside of the window.

Due'to the fact that the pivots 29 about which the vanes swing move outwardly away from the rafter angles as the vanes open, the vanes can be maintained in overlapping relation with each other in closed position and can swing through approximately 90 to fully open position, and the top vane when closed can fit closely under a stationary vane or Weatherstrip 31 supported by the lateral angle ll at the top of the shutter, without requiring any different mounting for the top vane or notching out of the rear edge thereof around the rafter angles.

Moreover, the bottom vane of the shutter awning can be made to overlap a horizontal frame member or valance indicated at 38 in closed position and the novel operating mechanism provides for a space between the bottom vane and the valance, when the vanes are fully open, equal to the spaces between the other vanes.

The improved shutter awning has a trim and pleasing appearance when viewed from the side or rear, because the operating mechanism is sub with the exception of the operatinglever 3| and link 33 there are no parts projecting rearwardly from the rafter angles.

The location of the pivots 29 closely adjacent to the underside of the vanes and below the rear edges of the vanes in closed position provides a leverage conducive to easily'raising or lifting the weight of the vanes, making the opening operation of the awning relatively easy even though the vanes are elongated to cover large windows or store fronts.

The embodiment of the shutter awning shown in Fig. 3 is identical with that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the exception of the operating lever 3Ia which is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 39o on the rafter angle Na, and is pivotally connected at its outer end to a link 40a which is in turn pivotaiiy connected to one of the vanes 21a; In this embodiment when the inner end of the operating lever 3la is pulled downwardly the other end of the lever 3| a through the link 40a swings the vane 21a outwardly about pivot 29a, causing the actuating bar 22a to slide downwardly in the rafter angle and swing all of the vanes to open position.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4, and 6 is adapted for large windows or store fronts, and preferably utilizes elongated vanes 21b and more than two rafter angles I 3b. Otherwise the construction of the shutter awning is identical with that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the exception that a slightly different type of operating lever construction is employed to take,

care of the added length and weight of the vanes. 3

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 a square rocker shaft Mb is rotatably mounted in bearing brackets 42b.

the actuating bar 22b. Thus a downward pull on the free end of one of the levers 43b rotates rocker shaft Mb, and through the links 4417 moves all of the actuating bars 22b longitudine nally downward to swing the linkslllb outward about .pivots b and vanes 21b about pivots 29b,

to the dot-dash position shown in Fig. 5.

Obviously, the curved links 44b can be connected through links similar tollla in Fig. '3 to one of the vanes 21b to provide an operating mechanism similar to that shown in Fig. 3."

In Fig, 6 is shown a preferred way of attach-' ing the Weatherstrip 31b to the lateral supporting angle Mb by bolts 45b. The Weatherstrip 31a in the embodiment of Fig. 3, and the weatherstrip 31 in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 may be attached to the supporting angles in a similar fashion, as desired.

The embodiment of shutter awning shown ,in Figs. '7 and 8 is adapted for use with outwardly swinging casement windows and the like... As shown in Fig. 7 the shutter awning is secured to a laterally extending supporting angle 46c which is ,mounted on the building or window frame above the outwardly swinging window sash indicated at 410. The rafter angles for this embodiment of shutter awning have angled portions 480 and 490 so that the rafter angles are out wardly convex, the angle portion 480 extending groups of vanes 21c and 210' preferably comprises a connecting link 5 3o which is pivoted at its upper end to the upper actuating bar'iflc, as at 540, The lower end of the connecting link 530 is pivoted to one of the links'28c" mounted on the angled portion 450, and preferably to the upper one of these links. Thelower end of con-' necting link 530, as shown, is pivoted to the link 2130 intermediate the ends thereof, so that when the actuating bar 5lcmoves downwardly to open the vanes 21c carried by angled portion we to fullyopen position, the movementtransmitted by connecting link 530 to actuating bar 500 is very slight in order that the vanes 21c carried by the angled portion 480 open a lesser amount than the vanes 21c.

The connecting link' 53c is preferably'pivoted at its lower end to the uppermost link28c' at a point 550 which is calculated to movethe upper actuating bar 500 a distance which swings the upper vanes 210 to a fully open position in which said vanes are parallel to the lower vanes 210 in their fully open position.

As shown, the lowermost vane I'Iohas a depending' portion 560 secured to itsforward edge for closing the space between said lowermost vane 21c and the uppermost vane 210', when the vanes are in closed p0sition.- f i The improved shutter awning'is simple and inexpensive to construct, and has a neatand attractive appearance. Withthe improved vane opening and closing mechanism, the vane opening operation is relativelyeasy, even though the vanes are considerably elongated, andthe' vanes can be closely overlapped to be rainproof or,

, swung through approximately 90to'a fully open outwardly and preferably slightly downwardly from the supporting angle 46c, and the angled portion 490 extending angularly downwardand slightly outward from the outer end of angle portion 480.

One group of overlapping vanes 210 with their individual supporting lever arms 24c and links 280 is carried on the angled portion 480,..and another group of overlapping vanes 210' with their individual lever arms 24c and links 280' is carried on the angled portion 490, the vanes, lever arms andlinks being identical in construction with those in the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. An actuating bar .500 is slidably mounted in the angled portion 480 for movement longitudinally thereof to open and close the group of vanes 21c carried by said angled portion, and a separate actuating bar 5Ic is slidably mounted in angled portion 490 for movement longitudinally thereof to actuate the vanes 21c carried on that angled portion.

Means for operatively connecting the two position admitting a and air.

Iclaim: v I i 1. Shutter awning construction including a support, laterally spaced ra fter angles secured at their upper ends to said support and demaximum amount of light pending angularly downward and-outward therefrom, a bottom horizontal frame member extending between said angles, actuating bars slidable longitudinally in said angles, lever arms pivoted at their inner ends on said actuating bars at equal intervals longitudinally thereof, vanes mounted on the outer ends of'said lever armsin overlapping relation with each other, a'weather-' position, the space between the lowermost vane 2. Shutter awning constructionv including asupport, laterally spaced rafter angles secured at their-upper ends to said support and depending angularly downward and outward therefrom, actuating bars slidable longitudinally in said angles, lever arms pivoted at their inner ends on said actuating bars at equal intervals longitudinally thereof, vanes mounted on the outer ends of said lever arms in overlapping relation with each other, a Weatherstrip secured to said support overlapping the uppermost vane, links each pivoted at one end to one of said angles and slidably engaging the actuating bar therein and pivoted at its other end to one of said vanes, and lever.

means for moving the actuating bars longitudinally of said angles to swing the vanes through substantially 90 to open position.

3. Shutter awning construction including a support, laterally spaced frame members secured their outer ends to said support and depending angularly downward and outward therefrom, actuating bars mounted on said frame members for movement longitudinally thereof, lever arms pivoted at their inner ends on said actuating bars, vanes mounted on said lever arms inoverlapping relation with each other, links each pivoted at one end m m's: said frame members and at its other end to one of said lever arms under the vanes closely adjacent their rear edges, each of saidactuating barsbeing located between and slidably engaging an extension of aframe member and the linkspivoted thereto.

4. Shutter awning construction including a support, laterally. spaced frame' members secured at their upper ends to said support and depending angularly downward and outwardtherefrom, actuating bars mounted on said frame members for movement longitudinally thereof, lever arms pivotedon said actuating bars, links each pivoted at one end to one of said frame members and at its other end to one of said lever arms, each of said actuating bars being located between and slidably engaging anfextension of a frame member and the links pivq cdthereto, vanes mounted on said lever farms in overlapping relation with each other when closed for swinging clear of the frame members through substantially 90 to fully open position, a Weatherstrip secured to said support overlapping the uppermost vane in closed position, and lever means for moving the actuating bars to open and close the vanes.

5. In a shutter awning having a rafter angle, an actuating bar slidable longitudinally in said rafter angle, vane-supporting lever arms pivoted at theirinnerends onsaid actuating bar, vanes mounted on said arms inoverlapping relation with each other, links each pivoted at one end on said rafter angle and slidably engaging the actuating bar therein and pivoted at its other end on one of said lever arms at points closely adjacent to the rear edges of the vanes, and lever means mounted on the rafter angle for moving the actuating bar.

' 6. In a shutter awning having laterally spaced outwardly and downwardly directed frame members, a plurality of vane-supporting arms, vanes mounted on said arms in overlapping relation with each other, links each pivoted atone end to one of [said frame members and at its other end to one of said arms at points closelyadjacent the rear edges of said vanes, and actuating bars slidable longitudinally of said frame members pivotally connected with the inner ends of said arms for swinging them about their pivotal connections with the links, each of said actuating bars being located between and slidably engaging an extension of a frame member and the links pivoted thereto.

7. Shutter awning construction for outwardly swinging casement windows includinga support, a rafter member secured atits upper end to said support and having angled portions extending outwardly and then downwardly therefrom, an actuating bar mounted in each angled portion for movement longitudinally thereof, separate groups of lever arms pivoted at their inner ends at intervals on each of said bars, vanes mounted on the outer ends of said lever arms of each group in overlapping relation with each other, links each pivoted at one end to one angled portion of said rafter member and as its other end to one of the arms of one group and links each pivoted at one end to the other angled portion of said rafter member and at its other end to one of the arms of the other group, each of said actuating bars being located between and slidably engaging an extension of said rafter member and the links pivoted thereto, and a connecting link pivoted at one end to the actuating bar for one group of lever arms and at the other end to one of the links for the other group of lever arms whereby the vanes of both groups are parallel in fully open position.

8. In a shutter awning for outwardly swinging casement windows, a rafter member having outwardly and downwardly angled portions, an actuating bar movable longitudinally in each angled portion. separate groups of vane-supporting lever arms pivoted individually on each of said bars, links each pivoted at one end to one rafter angled portion and at its other end to one of the arms of one group, and links each pivoted at one end to the other rafter angled portion and to its other end to one of the arms of the other'group, each of said actuating bars being located between and slidably engaging an extension of said rafter member and the links pivoted thereto, means operatively connecting-said actuating bars and maintaining the lever arms of both groups paral:

- lel in fully open position, and means for moving oneof said actuating bars. 

